SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Developed during the first quarter of the 20th century, Colonial Place emerged as a suburban community supporting the growing downtown area of Norfolk. Real estate developers recognized the financial prospects of Colonial Place, inspired by its location on the Lafayette River and its direct accessibility to the streetcar line. The neighborhood, originally catering to upper class patrons, developed with grand single-family dwellings that exhibited revival and American movement-era styles and forms. The flat tract was landscaped with tree-lined streets, traffic circles, and an intricate system of curvilinear roads that complimented the less than one-acre housing lots. The domestic buildings were buffered from the public streets by sidewalks and a grassy median planted with shade trees, primarily consisting of large maples. Colonial Place’s initial development constituted roughly nineteen dwellings between the years 1903-1911. Development was slow, substantially hindered by stiff competition and a citywide building slump. Consequently, the Development Company abandoned its original “high-class” image, allowing the community to thrive as a solidly middle class community. Growth of this middle class neighborhood was accelerated as the First World War launched a trend of housing needs nationwide. These needs created a second phase of development that included just over 750 buildings between 1912 and 1941. As a result, Colonial Place became defined by a variety of 20th century architectural styles and building types ranging from high style to vernacular interpretations of the elaborate styles erected decades earlier. The area making up the Colonial Place historic district presently consists of approximately 913 single-family dwellings, 43 multiple-family dwellings (including condominiums), a school, a pump house, four landscaped parks, two churches, a monument, and 354 supporting outbuildings, which includes sixty-nine sheds, a gazebo, and 282 garages.

The boundaries of the proposed district occupy approximately 202 of the original 220 acres conceived in 1903 by the Sterling Place Company as Colonial Place. Colonial Place became a cohesive residential neighborhood just to the east of Riverview (VDHR 122-0823), on a peninsula jutting north into the Lafayette River. The surrounding water, originally known as Tanner’s Creek, distinctly forms the northern boundary of the neighborhood, with Knitting Mill Creek forming the western edge and East Haven Creek defining the eastern border. The topography-created boundaries are delineated by the streetscape with Mayflower Avenue encircling the community on three sides and 38th Street forming the southern boundary. Aligned with the landscape, the streets were laid on a slightly angled north-south axis along the central peninsula, with bisecting cross-streets. Landscaped traffic circles, crescents, and avenues further distinguished the plan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The new subdivision was platted in 1903, under the direction of George W. Dillard, president of the Sterling Place Development Company (renamed Colonial Place Corporation in 1908). The design was composed of intersecting curvilinear streets that took advantage of the irregular shoreline of the Lafayette River. Aligning the grid pattern with the natural landscape created the picturesque views desired by the developers. The curvilinear riverfront avenue and central esplanade created opportunities for small parks where awkward intersections resulted in spaces that proved inappropriate for housing lots. The developers, attempting to set Colonial Place apart from Norfolk’s other emerging “high-class” suburbs, used popular picturesque ideals inspired by influential architects and landscapists such as Alexander Jackson Davis and Frederick Law Olmsted. The city-planning theories established by the City Beautiful Movement, which emerged at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, were also clearly influential. Implementation of these emerging ideals in Colonial Place included the incorporation of the existing trees, visually linked vistas, a central esplanade, small parks, and the preservation of the natural beauty of the surroundings. A focal point of the neighborhood was the elliptical waterfront, enhanced by the curvilinear Mayflower Avenue and the centrally laid Newport Avenue. Tree-lined streets, sidewalks, and four small traffic circles further improved the neighborhood. The greatest influence in the design of the community planning of Colonial Place, however, was the Jamestown Exhibition of 1907, which was held in Norfolk. The exposition was highly influential in the planning of the suburb, including the naming of the subdivision, the name of the Development Company, and the streets, all which were in accordance with the colonial theme. Furthermore, the Colonial Revival style was clearly the most prevalent illustration of architecture in the early years of development in Colonial Place.

Initial Development in Colonial Place (1903-1911)

Construction was initial focused in the southern portion of the community, primarily along Newport Avenue, Colonial Avenue, 38th Street, and the surrounding cross-streets, which provided easy access to the 35th Street streetcar line. This first phase of growth was characterized by building restrictions, including mandatory double-lot sizes and minimum allowable housing costs.

Between 1903 and 1911, at least nineteen dwellings were erected in Colonial Place. Despite being constructed in the early part of the 20th century, a number of these early buildings display the high-style ornamentation and structural forms fashionable in the latter part of the 19th century, including creative combinations of building forms commonly associated with the high styles. Of the nineteen extant buildings from this period, six houses exhibit the Colonial Revival style of architecture, an additional five buildings were designed in the Dutch Colonial Revival style, three buildings are Queen Anne, and the remaining five resources illustrate more vernacular interpretations of these styles. Many of the properties have freestanding garages and sheds associated with them that, although historic, were often constructed at a later date.

Following the heels of America’s Centennial celebrations in 1876, the Colonial Revival style emerged in the early 1880s. The style, which borrowed heavily from early American architecture—particularly Georgian and Federal buildings—was largely an outgrowth of a new nationwide pride in the past and a rapidly growing interest in historic preservation. In the early phase, the Colonial Revival style remained the exclusive domain of fashionable architectural firms and was favored for the large residences of wealthy clients. In general, as the style spread to the suburbs and increased in popularity, the detailing and form became increasingly more modest. The stylistic impression presented in the first years of development in Colonial Place epitomizes the suburban expression of the Colonial Revival, and the closely related Dutch Colonial Revival style, although somewhat more vernacular in interpretation.

Eleven extant examples of the Colonial Revival and Dutch Colonial Revival style of architecture stand in Colonial Place. The majority of these were constructed on brick foundations with wood frame structural systems clad with wood shingles or weatherboard. The roofs, presently sheathed in a variety of materials, historically consisted of numerous, intricate pitches that spurred from the main hip or gable. The forms of the dwellings were typically accentuated by porches, dormer windows, columns, balustrades, wide cornices, transoms, and patterned shingles. Excellent examples of the early phase of Colonial Revival and Dutch Colonial Revival architectural style and forms are reflected in the dwellings at 418 38th Street (1906), 422 38th Street (1907), 536 New York Avenue (1907), 610 Maryland Avenue (1907), 4415 Newport Avenue (1908), and 4107 Gosnold Avenue (1908).

The dwelling at 418 38th Street (originally Pocahontas Avenue) was built by Walter Turpin, one of Colonial Place’s original builders. The two-and-a-half story Dutch Colonial Revival house features an asphalt-shingled gambrel roof with flared eaves. A projecting gable that is anchored by two gabled dormers caps the roof. A small inset porch with an arched opening and turned post balustrade (now infilled) defines the first and second stories. Now clad in asbestos shingles, the three-bay wide dwelling originally featured wood shingles on the second story and weatherboard cladding on the first story.

Almost identical in form, the two-and-a-half story dwelling at 422 38th was also built by an original builder, James Turpin. The dwelling, now clad in aluminum siding, retains much of its original Dutch Colonial style detailing, including the arched first and second story inset porches. The gambrel roof with flared eaves displays a front gable with dormers, a raking cornice and tympanum and modillions.

One of the most high style examples of Colonial Revival architecture in Colonial Place stands at 536 New York Avenue. Dating from 1907, the two-and-a-half story dwelling measures three bays wide and is capped by a hipped slate-shingled roof. The imposing residence features a denticulated cornice, a central second story Palladian window, a one-story projecting portico supported by square Tuscan posts and pilasters, and a fanlight and sidelights with high-style tracery. In addition, the two gabled dormer windows crowning the roof feature raking tympanums, pilaster supports, and denticulated cornices.

More modest in style, the three-bay wide dwelling at 610 Maryland Avenue also represents the Colonial Revival building type that emerged in the early phase of Colonial Place. The two-and-a-half story dwelling, dating from 1907, is constructed of brick with a wood shingled second story. Colonial Revival details include a Tuscan post-supported wrap-around front porch and a molded door surround with a fanlight and sidelights. The dwelling also features a central gabled dormer, exposed rafters, and a molded wood cornice.

The Richard W. Peatross House at 4415 Newport Avenue (1908) stands as another example of the development company’s houses, built to attract a high-class clientele. The Dutch Colonial Revival dwelling retains much of its original design and detailing. Two stories in height, the building features a slate-shingled gambrel roof with flared eaves, an arched hood over the entry, corbeled chimneys, a bracketed cornice, and a projecting three-sided bay window. The roof is detailed with five symmetrically placed shed roof dormers. Built on a brick foundation, the originally weatherboard-sided dwelling has been reclad with aluminum siding.

The Taylor House at 4107 Gosnold Avenue, erected in 1908, also represents the more stylish Colonial Revival dwellings erected in Colonial Place. The three-bay-wide building measures two stories in height and is capped by a hipped asphalt-shingled roof with overhanging eaves and a denticulated cornice. Clad in weatherboard siding, the building features a central entry with a Colonial Revival surround and Tuscan column supported portico. A one-story Tuscan column porch with a balustraded roof also extends across the side elevation.

The Queen Anne style was also popular in the early development of Colonial Place, although often a more vernacular interpretation of the style was exhibited as the fashion was waning by the early 20th century. The favor of the style commenced at the 1876 Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia, where several English buildings were designed in the Queen Anne style. This proved to be widely influential in America from the 1870s until slightly after the turn of the 20th century. The style dismissed the impractical Gothic style by emphasizing human scale and domestic comforts. In America, the style found an exuberant expression in wood, and frequently incorporated classical columns and decorative motifs borrowed from our own colonial architecture. Thus, like the Colonial Revival dwellings, the majority of the Queen Anne houses in Colonial Place were constructed on brick foundations with wood frame structural systems clad with wood shingles or weatherboard. Presently clad in a variety of materials, the roofs historically consisted of a number of intricate pitches that rose from the main hip or gable. The forms of the dwellings were typically accentuated by corner towers, porches, and bay windows completed by columns, balustrades, and patterned shingles, often with Colonial Revival influences. Representative examples of the style include 4105 Newport Avenue (1906), 4801 Newport Avenue (1909), and 504 Georgia Avenue (1910).

The two-and-a-half-story American bond brick dwelling at 4105 Colonial Avenue, built by Colonial Place’s developer George W. Dillard, measures two bays wide with front-gabled asphalt-shingled roof. The building is finished with wood shingle-clad dormers and features prominent Queen Anne influenced projecting three-sided bays on the first and second stories. Some of the other features include a full-width wrap-around porch supported by Tuscan columns, a raking cornice, weatherboard-clad tympanum with Palladian window, and arched window surrounds and lintels.

The dwelling at 4801 Colonial Avenue illustrates the imposing Queen Anne style popular in Colonial Place. The two-and-a-half story wood frame building presents a wrap-around porch supported by Tuscan columns. The dwelling illustrates a multitude of stylistic details including off-center and projecting gables, a turned post balustrade and canted bay windows, which further distinguish this Queen Anne residence. The building sits on a brick foundation and has been re-clad in vinyl siding.

Less elaborate in detailing, the dwelling at 504 Georgia Avenue also represents the Queen Anne style in Colonial Place. The three-bay wide, two-story building features a projecting gable with three-sided canted bays, a half-hipped off-center dormer, and an off-center half-hipped roof with Tuscan post supports. It is now clad in aluminum siding.

Colonial Place also boasts four landscaped parks, which were included in the original subdivision plan. The two circular parks located in the center of Newport Avenue were named in honor of the Colonial communities of Jamestown and Yorktown. The remaining two square-shaped parks are located along the east-west axis of Delaware Avenue, appropriately named East Park and West Park. The parks are landscaped with trees and shrubs.

Subsequent Development in Colonial Place (1912-1941)

Construction in Colonial Place picked up in the second decade of the 20th century. The pace of this development, particularly between 1912 and 1941, was greatly effected by the influx of workers to the port community during the First World War and the abandonment of many of the imposed building restrictions. During this period, approximately 766 buildings were erected, compared to the approximately nineteen previously built. Respecting the existing architectural heritage of the planned community, architects, builders, and homeowners continued to pay attention to fashionable stylistic details when designing new buildings. Examples include the Colonial Revival building at 4709 Colonial Avenue (1915), the large Queen Anne dwelling at 4300 Colonial Avenue (1913), and the eclectic amalgamation of style visible at 5101 Newport Avenue (1912). Although more imposing houses were continuing to be built during this period, house sizes and stylistic features had begun to change with the construction of a significant number of smaller, less ornamented houses, often constructed by speculative builders such as S.L. McGonigal and Charles C. Fitch. Excellent examples of the more modest dwellings in Colonial Place that demonstrate the shift to slightly smaller Colonial Revival-styled dwellings include 524 Pennsylvania Avenue (1918) and 4503 Gosnold Avenue (1932). These two-story dwellings strongly resemble the imposing Colonial Revival buildings constructed in Colonial Place’s initial building phase, although they are more modest in scale and detailing.

The dwelling at 524 Pennsylvania, sited near a number of other speculative examples, is constructed of masonry with a slate-shingled gambrel roof. The three-bay wide façade is pierced with a central entry with arched surround and sidelights. An inset full-width porch supported by Tuscan posts shelters the entry. Two Colonial Revival-styled gable dormers accent the gambrel roof that is indicative of the Dutch Colonial Revival.

Another example of the shift to more modest Colonial Revival-styled building practices is seen at 4503 Gosnold Avenue. The two-story dwelling measures three bays wide with a centrally placed gable portico that is supported by Tuscan columns. A less elaborate fanlight caps the single-leaf door. The dwelling also features a side-gabled roof, brick foundation, and aluminum siding.

The architecture of this period soon shifted from the Colonial Revival with the widespread influence of the Craftsman/Bungalow style. Colonial Place’s second building phase was clearly dominated by this style, which increased tremendously in popularity nationwide. A total of 393 of the more than 750 dwellings constructed between 1912 and 1941 in Colonial Place were Craftsman in style or bungaloid in form. The one- to one-and-a-half story bungalows, which earlier had mimicked the architectural ornament of the late Victorian period, later displayed the fashionable Craftsman style. Magazines led the way in introducing affordable housing to the new mobile consumers. Among the most influential was >Ladies Home Journal, which around 1900 published designs for small model homes--often in chalet and period styles—complete plans for prefabricated frames, specifications for fireproofing, and such novel conveniences as electricity, plumbing, and gas ranges. The Craftsman was responsible for the widespread popularity of the Craftsman bungalow, a typically snug one-and-a-half story house with a wide overhanging roof, a deep wide porch, and simple interiors with built-in amenities such as cupboards and cozy inglenooks.

Examples of dwellings in Colonial Place erected following this prevalent building trend include 4806 Mayflower Avenue (1912), 501 Carolina Avenue (1913), 725 Virginia Avenue (1917) and 4001 Colonial Avenue (1918), as well as a row of houses on Delaware Avenue.

The dwelling at 4806 Mayflower Avenue was designed to illustrate the fashionable Craftsman style architectural trends of the day, complete with an inset full-width porch supported by tapered posts, low roofs with overhanging eaves and bracket supports, and square-edge wood window and door surrounds. Although clear Colonial Revival influence remains visible, particularly in the building’s two-story form, the emergence of Craftsman detailing is dominant.

The two-story bungalow located at 501 Carolina Avenue also reflects the Craftsman style. The weatherboard and wood shingle-clad dwelling is crowned with a large central projecting shed roofed wall dormer and features overhanging bracketed eaves. Influences of the Colonial Revival are also evident in the large Tuscan columns that support the full-width porch.

The dwelling at 4001 Colonial Avenue is a one-and-a-half story example of the bungalow form. Its low roofs of differing heights and inset full-width porch mark the dwelling. The building displays an asphalt-shingled roof, vinyl siding, a shed dormer, and the classic overhanging eaves with knee bracket supports.

The use of craftsman detailing is prevalent in the neighborhood. The house at 717 Delaware Avenue stands as a prime representative example of the style. Details include a side-gabled low-pitched roof with shed porch extension, central shed dormer, overhanging eaves with knee brace supports, exposed rafters, and wood shingle cladding. Several of the examples have either wood post porch supports or tapered post supports set on brick piers. In addition, multi-paned upper sashes over single-pane lower sashes are illustrative of the style. These windows are often paired, with square-edged surrounds

Augmenting the bungalow, also popular in residential building of the period, is the American Foursquare building form. Popular throughout the nation, the foursquare provided the working and middle class with a larger, more stylish form that lacked the traditional ornamentation. Consequently, the form was more inexpensive to construct and fit well with an egalitarian society’s demand for simple building materials that made no false claims to richness. Additionally, the foursquare suited the modern building techniques and materials that ranged from conventional frames covered in weatherboard, shingles or brick veneer to solid brick, cast-cement block, or poured concrete.

Following the ubiquitous form associated with the building’s nomenclature, the dwelling located at 4511 Newport Avenue (1920) is an excellent example of the Craftsman style foursquare. Its cubic shape, overhanging eaves, central half-hipped dormer, and full-width projecting one-story porch with tapered wood post supports characterize the building. Other examples of the foursquare form include 4607 Colonial Avenue (1912), 4210 Newport Avenue (1927) and 519 Connecticut Avenue (1916).

The Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival style, an adaptation of the dominant Colonial Revival, also began to appear on the American architectural landscape in the first quarter of the 20th century. This Spanish-inspired style reflected a loose adaptation of features often found on Spanish Colonial mission buildings. In peak vogue into the 1930s, the style was extremely popular in California and Florida, particularly in fashionable neighborhoods and resorts. More vernacular interpretations of the style quickly spread to neighborhoods throughout the country.

Although most examples of the style appear later, the dwelling at 4516 Newport Avenue (1915 ca) is representative of the style. The two-and-a-half story dwelling displays many Spanish influenced details. These include a stuccoed exterior, shaped parapets, and an inset porch with slightly arched openings. Other examples of the style in Colonial Place include the dwellings at 718 and 720 Michigan Avenue (1922/1939). Spanish detailing on the dwellings includes a stucco clad exterior, arched porch entries, parapet roofs, and arched windows. The dwelling at 601 Mayflower Road (1910) features stucco cladding, a tile roof, parapet roof, a tower, and arched loggia. Another example of the style is visible at 433 Rhode Island Avenue (1939).

The Tudor Revival style was also a popular building practice in Colonial Place. The style, mimicking the architectural characteristics of 16th century Tudor England displays many distinctive elements including half-timbering, diamond patterned casement windows, steep gable roofs, decorative brickwork, large chimneys, shaped parapets, and stucco cladding. Examples of the less elaborate interpretation of the style in Colonial Place include 500 Massachusetts Avenue (1915), 711 Rhode Island Avenue (1918), and 515 Mayflower Road (1940).

The dwelling at 500 Massachusetts Avenue features an off-center, steeply pitched, front gable roof. The building has a stucco finish and diamond-patterned casement windows. In addition, the building displays an enclosed octagonal-arched entry with parapet roof, patterned wood shutters, and banked windows.

Located at 711 Rhode Island Avenue, the Tudor Revival dwelling features false half-timbering, brick and stucco cladding, a projecting off-center-projecting gable, banked windows, and decorative brickwork. A number of similar dwellings are located along the 500 block of Mayflower Avenue. One such example is the dwelling at 515 Mayflower Avenue, which displays characteristic architectural features of the style. These include a steeply pitched front gable roof, stucco cladding, false half-timbering, a large front brick chimney, and projecting gables.

Other modest buildings were also erected during this period of growth in Colonial Place. Illustrative of the more modest houses is the one-and-a-half story dwelling located at 713 Carolina Avenue (1941), which stands as an example of the Cape Cod-inspired dwellings that were also popular in Colonial Place. The modest cottage is constructed of brick with a central Colonial Revival entry portico. The side-gabled building is topped with symmetrically placed gable dormers. Another such example is located at 730 Carolina Avenue (1941).

This extended period of infill in Colonial Place also saw the introduction of the multi-family dwelling and apartment building. The Jamestown Exposition of 1907 was a major impetus for this development type due to the need for housing for exposition planners and workers, as well as tourists. This new housing type was quickly embraced nationwide. A few apartment buildings appeared by 1917 along 36th and 37th streets, just to the south of Colonial Place. After 1919, a small number of apartments were construction in Colonial Place. Such early examples include those at 625 and 635 Maryland Avenue (1930/1924). Other examples include 4305 Newport Avenue (1919), 639 New York Avenue (1920) and 4301 Newport Avenue (1928). Indicative of the form, the apartment structures feature two-story blocks, often with full-width porches stretching across each story of the façade. In addition, to meld with the neighboring single-family dwellings, the apartment buildings feature Colonial Revival, Craftsman and Spanish influenced detailing.

By the 1920s, the need arose for supporting social and educational activities, as evidenced by the J.E.B. Stuart Elementary School at 446 Virginia Avenue. The rectangular-shaped building occupies a large parcel that extends from Virginia Avenue south to Carolina Avenue; thus, the building presents two primary facades. The three-story school was designed in the Art Deco style, which was popular in America in the 1920s and early 1930s. The style lent itself particularly well to public and commercial architecture, like Stuart Elementary School. The school, which now serves as a community center, features the indicative smooth wall surface with applied ornamentation, molded belt-course bands, and a decorative concrete parapet that creates a vertical emphasis at the central bay.

Development After 1941

Colonial Place experienced an extended period of infill construction after 1941, despite a lull between 1942 and 1947 when only twelve houses were erected. After 1948, however, approximately 229 more buildings were constructed within the original boundaries of the neighborhood. The fashion of styles and forms of this infill construction was restrained, forcing the dwellings from this period to differ architecturally from their predecessors. Most of the infill construction consisted of small, one-story dwellings, some with attached garages. These new housing forms began to infiltrate Colonial Place by the mid-part of the 20th century. These include single dwellings, two churches (one of which was transformed from a non-historic single dwelling) and the condominium construction along the 400 block of Delaware Avenue (1988). The early 20th century fondness for horizontality reflected in the bungalow found expression later in the century with the ranch house, and the two-story Colonial Revival was reduced to the modest single story Cape Cod with front-gabled dormers. Common idioms included the illusion of masonry construction by the application of brick veneer and textured vinyl siding to mimic wood weatherboard. Stylistically, the infill housing generally respected the established architectural heritage of the community by adopting traditional features. Craftsman and Colonial Revival elements are commonly displayed, however, the interpretations are typically more vernacular than high style.

The residential buildings constructed in Colonial Place after 1941 were primarily built on unimproved lots laid out in the original 1903 plat. Consequently, there was no subdivision of existing lots, and the scenic vistas with pockets of landscaped parks remained consistent with the original design intentions of the land developer. The condominiums along the 400 block of Delaware Avenue (1988) did, however, create new landscaping plans and introduce a new building form into the community. These buildings are constructed in narrow rows, each containing three housing units. They are set along the edges of the property with an interior courtyard that provides off-street parking. This new landscaping ideal of these modern structures respects the existing street configurations, curb cuts, and traffic circles created in the 1903 plat. Furthermore, in massing, material, and scale, the modern buildings are consistent with their historic neighbors.